The Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library is excited to announce that we are now fine-free! The Board of Trustees voted in favor of eliminating fines for overdue materials. Effective July 19th, no new fines will accrue for library materials from Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library and past fines have been forgiven.
Library fines often start small but can quickly add up and become a roadblock to using the library, especially for the most vulnerable members of our community. Research at libraries across the nation has shown that return rates for materials increase when fines are eliminated. Money earned from fines constitutes a fraction of a percent of the library budget and we place a higher value on removing barriers to information and library resources than the small amount of money generated from fines.
Library materials will still have a due date and we encourage all of our patrons to be timely with returning items. Overdue notifications will continue to be sent before blocking any accounts or replacement fees are charged. Patrons will be responsible for lost or damaged items. Click here for more information.
